8 true definitions for “RN”

I always enjoy hearing other nurses talk about our profession. Everyone has their own opinion, be it positive or negative in nature. One of the greatest opinions on the matter came from a coworker of mine who posted the “true meanings of RN” on her Facebook page which started a tremendous chatter in response. I thought I would comment on each of these meanings and provide my own insight into the truth behind ‘RN.’

Nicole Lehr is a pediatric nurse. She can be described in three adjectives: content, thankful and fortunate. All credit for the aforementioned description can be given to the love she has for her profession as an RN. She graduated from University of Florida with her Bachelor’s in Nursing and moved to Atlanta to work at the Cardiac Stepdown Unit at Children’s — her dream job.
By Nicole Lehr

I never believed “It’s Not My Job’. I’ve done housekeeper, lab and transporter things. Most of my patients over the years have been elderly and chronically/terminaly ill. I’ve done so many things that were the “other duties as required” that I could write a whole new job discription.

It really bothers me to see the comments made by non professional as well as professional regarding this beloved profession im a LPN which i enjoy my skills,opions & knowledge works side by side with the RN & Dr as we no who are in the fill the LPN’S are working the floor running the units etc healthcare is ever changing everyone does not desire to be a RN. As for me i will be completing school soon & my job will change only pay!!!!

I have the utmost respect for LPN’s. I learned more from them after graduating than anyone else because they worked on the floors alongside the RNs. I have since moved to Michigan and here the hospital LPNs glorified CNAs (doing pt care duties), otherwise they work in nursing homes. It was a huge culture shock to me.

I had a medical assistant say to me…”oh you’re an LPN…that means let’s Play Nurse”. I was deeply offends and stated that when I went to nursing school I choose LPN because back then-1960’s- the LPN’s were more hands on with the patient and not passing meds most of the shift. My program was equivalent to the RN associate degree program of today.

Just found this program. Love it. Wish we’d had it when I was first an LPN , than anRN. I boo’ed at the comment about lpn, little play nurse, if he only knew. As an LPN, I served many a night shift as charge nurse on one unit or another. Wouldn’t do it now for anything.

While giving a deposition, the lawyer asked me if I was a “real nurse”, of course my response to his question would have been thats what RN stands for! I thinkd if I had given that answer he probably would have felt dumb.